Theme A — Space, Time and Motion
A.2.12 Impulse and Momentum — IB Physics HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions
5 min read 10 parts Lesson 23 of 63 1 quiz
Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
Lesson summary
A.2.12 Impulse and Momentum — IB PHYSICS SL notes: Define impulse, relate it to change in momentum and use force–time graphs to find impulse.Impulse = the product of the force applied and the time for which it acts, J = FΔt.J is in N s, F is the resultant external force in N and …
- Short interactions
- From the second law
- Constant force
- Equivalent effect
- Linear rise and fall
- Complicated pulse
Part 1 of 8Impulse
Impulse
Impulse the product of the force applied and the time for which it acts, J = FΔt.
- J is in N s, F is the resultant external force in N and Δt the time in s.
Vector
- Vector impulse is a vector in the direction of the resultant force.
Units
- N s is the same as kg m s−1, because 1 N = 1 kg m s−2.
Short interactions
- Short interactions kicking a ball, catching a ball and a collision are examples.
Measuring
- Measuring the force and time are hard to measure directly, so impulse is found indirectly from momentum.
Part 2 of 8Impulse–momentum theorem
From the second law
- F = Δp/Δt gives FΔt = Δp.
Statement
- Statement the impulse of the resultant force equals the change in momentum, J = Δp = mv − mu.
- m is the mass, v the final velocity and u the initial velocity.
Constant force
- FΔt = Δp is used when the force F is constant.
Rebound
- Rebound a ball arriving at +u and leaving at −v has Δp = −m(v + u), larger than simply stopping.
Equivalent effect
- Equivalent effect a small force over a long time has the same effect as a large force over a short time.
Part 3 of 8Force–time graphs
Area
- Area the area between the curve and the time axis is the impulse.
Constant force
- Constant force the area is a rectangle, F × Δt.
Linear rise and fall
- Linear rise and fall the area is a triangle, ½ × base × peak height.
Complicated pulse
- Complicated pulse count squares or split into shapes.
Average force
- Average force divide the impulse by the contact time; the peak force is greater than the average.
Change in velocity
- Δv = area/m, so v = u + area/m.
Part 4 of 8Reducing and increasing forces
Reducing and increasing forces
For a given Δp
- For a given Δp a longer contact time gives a smaller average force, F = Δp/Δt.What the symbols mean: F = force (N) · Δt = time the force acts (s) · Δp = change in momentum (kg m s−1); FΔt is the impulse (N s)
Crumple zones
- Crumple zones they lengthen the collision time and reduce the force on passengers.
Airbags and seat belts
- Airbags and seat belts they extend the stopping time.
Bent knees
- Bent knees gymnasts and parachutists lengthen the landing time.
Cricket catch
- Cricket catch the fielder draws the hands back to increase Δt and reduce the force on the hands.
Short contact wanted
- Short contact wanted hammering a nail or hitting a golf ball needs a short contact and a high force.
Soft landing mats and helmets
- Soft landing mats and helmets compressible materials increase the contact time.
Part 5 of 8Umbrella in rain and hail
Raindrops
- Raindrops they splatter and roll off, with only a small change of momentum.
Hailstones
- Hailstones they have larger mass and bounce back, so the change of momentum and the impulse are greater.
Result
- Result more force is needed to hold an umbrella in hail than in rain.
Part 6 of 8Impulse with gravity and other forces
Resultant force
- Resultant force the theorem applies to the resultant force.
Short contact
- Short contact during a bounce the floor force is much larger than the weight, so the weight can be ignored.
Long duration
- Long duration for a rocket engine, gravity must be included in the resultant.
Two colliding objects
- Two colliding objects the impulses on them are equal and opposite, which proves conservation of momentum.
Part 7 of 8Estimating forces
Method
- Method use F = Δp/Δt with a sensible contact time.
Header
- Header a 0.43 kg ball changing momentum by about 6 kg m s−1 in about 10 ms gives an average force near 600 N.
Car crash
- Car crash a 70 kg passenger stopping from 14 m s−1 in 0.10 s feels about 9800 N, over fourteen times the weight.
Crumple zone
- Crumple zone doubling the time halves the force.
Curved force–time peak
- Curved force–time peak count squares and convert the unit of one square.
- (force per square times time per square)
Part 8 of 8More from the specification
More from the specification
Time integral of impact forces
- Time integral of impact forces integrating resultant contact forces over collision duration yields impulse, directly equating to linear momentum change.
Impulse
- Impulse the product of force and contact time, equal to the change in momentum.
Momentum
- Momentum mass times velocity, a vector; force equals rate of change of momentum.
Force-time graph
- Force-time graph the area under it gives the impulse.
Safety applications
- Safety applications crumple zones and airbags lengthen the collision time and reduce the average force.
Newton's second law
- Newton's second law the net force causes acceleration, F = ma when mass is constant, with friction opposing motion.
Normal reaction
- The contact force perpendicular to a surface.
Reaction force
- Force from a support pushing up on an object.
Fluid resistance
- Drag force from a fluid opposing motion.
Normal
- Line at 90° to a surface.
Tension
- Force transmitted along a string or rope.
Buoyancy
- Another name for upthrust.
Centripetal force
- Net force toward the centre, mv2/r.
Static friction
- Friction between surfaces at rest relative to each other; fs ≤ μsFN.
Kinetic energy
- K = ½mv2, energy of motion.
Angular speed
- Magnitude of the angular velocity.
Centripetal acceleration
- Ac = v2/r toward the centre.
Acceleration
- Rate of change of velocity.
Friction
- Force parallel to the surface opposing relative motion or its tendency.
Newton
- Unit of force, kg m s-2.
Radius
- Distance from the centre to the circular path.
Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Impulse | Product of force and the time it acts; equal to the change in momentum |
| Newton second (N s) | Unit of impulse and momentum, equal to kg m s−1 |
| Impulse–momentum theorem | The impulse of the resultant force equals the change in momentum |
| Average force | Impulse divided by the contact time |
| Force–time graph | Graph whose area gives the impulse |
| Contact time | Time over which a force acts during an interaction |
Avoid these mistakes
1
Forgetting the sign change when a body rebounds — Δp = m(v − u) with v reversed.
2
Using the peak force as the average force — the average is impulse divided by time.
3
Confusing impulse with force — impulse is force multiplied by time.
4
Using the weight in a short collision — the contact force is far larger.
5
Taking the area under a force–time graph as velocity — it is momentum change.
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